I am ten years old I am in New York City for the first time I'm BIG! New York is: TRANSFORMATIVE I am visiting the Guggenheim Museum I want to see what art is
On the ramp to the museum's front doors A street performer cackles Sharp attrition slicing my air He's a gory, callous clown His face is twisted into a grotesque grin He offers me a twisted balloon I unpolitely decline because I'm on my way to look at: ART I don't have time for a childhood now I'm BIG! Show me the ART.
Frank Lloyd reveals his curves to me as I burst through the main entrance Even as a small person I know this is something special The rounds of the views curve themselves to me A fish-eyed photo for a wide-eyed girl Story leading to story Dad says, "It's art." The sign says, "Modern Art".
The exhibit is interactive and very, very contemporary The piece is "Public Candy" It consists of 10,000 pieces of licorice candy Individually wrapped Strewn upon the floor in a corner The art is: You walk up to it and eat one Or throw one Or move one to a different part of the wall It's transformative.
I think art is: the balloon that I beg to buy With the money I've saved all summer Art is the way the gift shop lady handed it to me Art is the way I walked outside to admire my balloon And let go of it, on accident And watched it float very slowly up to join theWorld Trade Center towers, glowing with permanence
